Improved device for supplying gas-retorts with liquids



E. L. NORFOLK.

Supplying Oil Gas' Retorts.

HW H f Hl Hi v Hx Hl 1 H1 @H m l Mm `l BNN m UNITED STATES y PATENTOFFICES EDWARD L. NORFOLK, 0E SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVED DEVICE FOR SUPPLY-ING GAS-RETORTS WITH LIQUIDS.

Specification formirg part of Letters Patent No. 40,058. dated September22, i863.

To all vwhom it may concern,.-

Beit known that 1, EDWARD L. NORFOLK, of Salem,Massaehusetts, haveinvented an Improved Device for Supplying Gas-Retorts with Liquids, ofwhich the following is a specification.

AThe nature of my invention consists in a new method of supplyinggasretorts With hydrocarbon used in illuminating-gas manufzcure, bymeans of a vessel or chamber so constructed and arranged with referenceto the retort in which it is to be decomposed that the pressure exertedby the gas shall be equal upon the chamber and retort, by means ofsuitable connecting-pipes, as described in thedrawing,and thus allow thehydrocarbon to iiow into the retort in a continuous stream. Thedifliculty which this apparatusis designed to overcome is that ofmaintaining a regular supply of hydrocarbon under any pressure. In theordinary way, by the use ot' siphons, any sudden change of pressurethrows the hydrocarbon out ofthe Siphon, unsealing the gas andallowingit to escape, and the Siphon being usually near the tire thehydrocarbon is iniiamed, thus making its use dangerous in many places.Besides, the objection ot' the disagreeable smell of most hydrocarbons,when exposed to the atmosphere, is entirely avoided by this apparatus,and it may be applied to all kinds of hydrocarbon-gas manufacture, andis especially adapted to the apparatus used in the manufacture ofWatergas,in which it is in successful operation, and by its use gasmaking can beconducted in the most contined localitywit-h safety andfreedom from the annoying odor of 111e hydrocarbons; and in the use ofvolatile hydrocarbons, or those which require to be heated to make themlimpid, it is economical from the fact of its contining and saving theseproducts of evaporation. It also diminishes the labor required from itsrequiring no Watching orattention aft-er once being adjusted.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I Willproceed to describe, the samereference being had to the drawing, whichrepresents in section this chamber applied to upright retorts.

A is the chamber, which is placed above the retorts B, and is usuallysupported by the furnace C, though its position may be changedto-meetthe requirementsof any locality. AItis constructed ot' metal,perfectly airtight, and' made' of any required size. It is provided withany suitable means of filling with hydrocarbon,'either at intervals asthe supply is exhausted, as at H, or a continuous supply may be kept upby means of a pump connecting with a reservoir ot' the hydrocarbon, andit may be provided with a glass tube, D, to le placed on the side, toserve as an indicator ot' the height of the liquid in the vessel, thisgage being connected at the top and bottom of the box in nearly the samemanner as the gages in use on steam-boilers.

Frein the top of the chamber above the level of the hydrocarbon, thepipe E is connected with the top of the retort, which opens acommunication and ot' course admits the same pressure upon both thechamber and the retort. Communication heilig opened between the lowerpart -of the chamber and the retort B by the pipe F, a continuoussupply' ot hydrocarbon will be maintained, which may be controlled bythe stop-cock G.

The pipes connecting the retort an d chamber may be made ot' any sizedesired, but should be in proportion to the quantity of hydrocarbonrequired and the size of the apparatus. The cock I is placed in the pipeE, to be closed when iilling through the funnel and cock H.

Having thus fully described the nature ot' my invention, What I claimtherein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Maintaining a regular supply of h ydrocarbon for gas purposes, by meansof the chamber A and connecting-pipes E and F, or their equivalents, thewhole operating in the manner and for the purpose set torth.

E. L. NORFOLK.

Attest:

JOHN S. HOLLINGSHEAD, JOHN A. BASSETT.

